Back supporter



`July 2 2, 1941.

C. G. LINS BACK SUPPORTER Filed April 2, 1940 INVENTOR yvrrNEssEs Oar-l G-L r1/s ma, ATTORNEYS u Patented July 22, 1941 `UNITED STATES PATE-NT QFFICE f Y j v y l 2,250,267 l BACK `surr'on'rnn Carl G. Uns, Tuckahoe, Y. v Application April 2, 1940, Serial No. 327,377 2 claims. (ol. 12s- 132) This invention relates to an improved back supporter.

It is an object of lthe invention to provide a back supporter for use particularly while the wearer is sleeping and which will increase his comfort so that he will receive more complete rest with the resultant beneficial effects upon bodily functions and health.

A further object is the provision of an improved back supporter of the above character which will give support to the proper portion of the back, which is held firmly in position against accidental displacement but nevertheless does not interfere with normal body functions, and which may be applied to or removed from the wearer with a minimum of inconvenience and difliculty.

Another object is the provision of an improved back supporter in the form of a cushion held in position in an improved manner by means of a pocket and body encircling band so that the cushion can be conveniently removed from the pocket to permit laundering of the pocket and band.

For a more complete understandingr of the invention, reference should be had to the accompanying drawing in which- Fig. 1 is a rear elevation of a back supporter embodying my invention showing it applied to a wearer;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the back supporter applied to a wearer;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view in the directior` of the arrows on the line 3-3 of Fig` 4;

Fig. 4 is a rear elevation of the back supporter;

Fig. 5 is a perspective View from the front of the back supporter; and

Fig. 6 is a view of one side of the cushion showing a supplementary compartment attached thereto to give greater thickness to the cushion adjacent the central portion.

My improved back supporter comprises a poolet I0 made of non-resilient material and adapted to receive a removable cushion II and held in position on the back of a wearer by means of a belt I2 made of elastic material and adapted to encircle the waist of the wearer. The cushion may be made in various shapes but is preferably so formed that when it is placed against the back of the wearer the central portion is of greater width than the remainder thereof and is positioned over the small of the back. For this purpose I have found that a circular cushionof the type illustrated is very satisfactory and it will be seen that when applied to the back, the central portion is of greater width than the upper and lower portions. However, a cushion of diamond cr`similar shape may be usedj-if desired. 'The cushion is made of two layers of textile material secured together around the periphery, as indicated at I4, and having suitable stuffing material, such as kapok, cotton, or the like, as indicated at I5. VI have found that more satisfactory results are obtained by making` the central portion of the cushion oi greater thickness than the peripheral portions and I, accordingly, provide a centrally disposed circular compartment portion I 6 on one side of the cushion by securing a circular piece of textile fabric to one Side of the cushion and by suitable stitching I I and filling the compartment with packing material similar to that contained in the cushion. The cushion is held in position on the back of the wearer by being inserted in the pocket IU and the belt I2 is then placed around the waist of the wearer.

The pocket I 0 may be of substantially the same shape as the cushion, although I prefer to form it of polygonal shape, as shown, so as to facilitate the manufacture thereof. The pocket is formed of two layers of inelastic or non-resilient, textile fabric I8 which may be of pentagonal shape secured together by lines of stitching I9 along four of their sides and open at the fifth side, preferably the top of the pocket, as indicated at 20. 'Ihe pocket is of sufcient size to accommodate the cushion, although the open side 20 may be shorter than the diameter of the cushion so that when the cushion is once insertecl in the pocket, it will not accidently be displaced therefrom. It will be appreciated that by compressing the cushion it can be inserted through the open side 2'0 and that after it is inside of the pocket it can be extended and flattened out to proper position and shape.

The belt I2 is preferably made of woven elastic fabric, lastex, or similar resilient material, and is preferably quite Wide so as to distribute the tension over a fairly large area and thereby prevent discomfort to the wearer. As shown, it is connected to opposite sides of the pocket I'Il, preferably slightly below the center thereof, and at the points of connection the pocket may be provided with connecting portions 2|.

In using my improved back supporter the cushion is first placed in the pocket with the compartment portion I6 facing toward the body of the wearer. The belt is then assembled around the waist of the wearer with the pocket and cushion resting against the back in the manner shown. When assembled in this manner, the intermediate portion of the cushion of greatest width extends across a substantial portion of theback of the wearer and the cushion reduces in width toward the tcp and bottom.

It will be found that when my improved back supporter is used in the manner illustratedy and described, it greatly increases the comfort of the wearer with the result that he obtains improved rest and also improved body function.

It will be seen that the back supporter is easy to apply or tor remove and that the cushion may be readily removed from the pocket so that the pocket and belt may be laundered. It will also` be seen that cushions of diierent thicknesses and dimensions may be inserted in the pocket to suit individual requirements.

It should be understood that modifications may be made in the illustrated embodiment of my invention without departing from the invention as set forth in the accompanying claims.

inserted and removed through the opening, the cushion having a central portion of greater thickness than the edge portions and a belt made of a relatively wide web of flexible, elastic material secured to opposite sides of the pocket slightly below the center thereof and adapted to encircle the trunk of the wearer to support the po'cket and cushion over the central portion of the back of the wearer.

-2. A back supporter comprising a pocket made of exible material and having an opening therein, a cushion disposed in the pocket and adapted to be inserted and removed through the yopening, the length of the cushion being less than the lengthyof the back of the wearer so as to ,permit longitudinal adjustment thereof and y -the Width being sufficient to extend substanyIclaim: .v

1. A back supporter comprising a pocket made of inelastic, flexible, textile material and having an opening therein, arcircular cushion of sucient diameter to extend substantially across the back of the wearer but smaller in diameter back disposed in the pocket and adapted tcbe tially across the back of the wearer, said cushion being formed of a plurality of separate compartments one of which extends for the entire Vlength and Width of the cushion and another of 

